I mean, the CHAZ seems to be a pretty clear example that the protests are, in fact, a surprisingly successful rehearsal of a revolution. Sure, not everyone wants it, but the point of the demonstration is to show people what is possible in a very non-theoretical way. Given the proliferation of other autonomous zones in other cities, it seems that people are learning from Seattle's demonstrations.

In quite a few cities, electoralism has failed to control the police: many of these demonstrations are being held in cities with Democratic leadership and the police have universally stepped up the brutality in response and defied or used loopholes in rules and laws meant to restrain them. It's perhaps understandable that demonstrators aren't excited about more of the same approach. A ballot initiative that passes is only as effective as the people implementing it, and politicians seem wishy-washy on the whole defund/abolish point still.

See also this reading on legibility which is a salient issue at this point. Black people in particular have been denied state legibility systematically; describing their needs in language the state understands is thus a challenge.

A friend looked into recalling the Seattle mayor by ballot and found that it'd be a pretty difficult process, especially given social distancing right now. Not sure how similar that is to getting a ballot initiative, though.